Electric steam generator



Jan. 24, 1928.

\ 1,657,144 A. N. ARMSTRONG ELECTRIC STEAM GENERATOR Filed Feb. 10. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 24, 1928. r 1,657,144

N. ARMSTRONG ELEGTRI C STEAM GENERATOR Filed Feb. 10, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 24, 1928.

UNITED sTA es I 1,657,144 PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR N. ARMSTRONG, OF NORWIC H, NEW YORK, ASSIGNIOR F ONE-HALF TO HERMAN J. SUMMERS, OF NORWICH, NEW YORK.

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Application filed February 10, 1926. Serial No. 87,366.

This invention relates to'certain new and useful improvements in electric steam generators adapted for many and various uses, as for instance supplying steam to a radiator for heating purposes.

. The main object of the invention is the productio'nof an apparatus for generating steam in an efiicient and comparatively inexpensive manner, the water supplied to the steam generator proper being controlled and regulated by and in accordance with the capacity of the apparatus for changing the same to steam.

Other objects and advantages relate to the details of the structure and the association and arrangement ofthe parts thereof all as will more fully appear from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation partly in section of an embodiment of my invention.

Figure 2 is a section through the steam j generator and the water supply regulator.

Figure 3 is a section on line 33, Figure 2.

Figure 4 is ure 2.

The apparatus as generally outlined in Figure 1 comprises a water supply tank 1-, a water supply regulator -2-, a steam generator 3, a steam. chest and an apparatus for utilizing the steam such as the radiator --5, return connect-ions ,6 and -7 leading from the steam chest and from the radiator to the water supply tank for returning condensation to the water supply tank, a pressure-actuatedautomatic switch 7 being provided for making or breaking the circuit to the primary 8 a section on the line 44, Fig- 4 of .a transformer in accordance with the pressure in the steam chest 1, the secondary -9 of the transformer being connected to the electric heating elements hereinafter described.

The steam generator as best illustrated in Figures 2 to 4 comprises a pair ofconcentric spaced cup-shape shells 10 and --11. The inner shell 11' is formed with a tapered dome 12 leading'to an' nected to the steam chest 4 The outer shell 10 is likewise provided with a tapered dome -14; conforming in shape with the do me-12-but of somewhat larger size and spaced therefrom and terminating in a exit pipe 13 for steam, which pipe is contube 15 surrounding and spaced from the tube 13. The space between the shells 10 and 11 between the domes 12 and -14 and the tubes 13- and ,15- is substantially filled with heat insulation material 16, such as asbestos. Within the shell 11 and spaced therefrom and secured in any suitable manner to the base 17 of the shell is a cylinder 18 provided at its top with a cap 19 formed with one or more openings -20 permitting the passage of vapor to the interior of the shell, and within the cylinder -1 8 there is arranged a second cylinder 21 of somewhat smaller diameter and connected to the base 17 in any suitable manner as by threading, for support thereby. The upper end of cylinder 21- is provided with a cap 22- having one or more openings 23 for the passage of vapor to the interior of the cylinder 18. The space within the cylinder 21' constitutes the water chamber of the steam generator.

Preferably the shells and cylinders are all arranged concentrically as illustrated. Within the space between the shells 10- and -l1 near the lower end of the shell 11 there is provided an electric heating element 43, the exterior insulation of which is preferably grooved for the reception of a coiled pre-heater pipe 24 which is carried down beneath the base 17- radially across the base to substantially the center thereof where it extends upwardly through the base and into the water chamg ber within the cylinder 21, preferably to a point adjacent the desired elevation of water therein.

Within the chamber between the shell 11 and the cylinder 18 is arranged a cylindrical heating element 25. This element is arranged concentric with the shell and the cylinder and is preferably spaced equal distances from each, and the space between the shell and the cylinder is of such a radial width that when the electric heating element 25 is inserted and secured therein, two narrow water chambers, referably extremely 'narrow and in accor ance with the heating capacity of the heating elements, are formed between the heating element and the shell, and between the heating element and the cylinder. I

These water chambers are of annular form and permit the passage upwardly of or spaces 27- and 28. through the.

medium of a passageway 29' extending through the base 17- and branching into two passageways leadingto the respective water areasonspaces'.

In addition," a fourth heating element -30 is disposed around the lower end of v the tube or pipe -13' so that additional heat may be supplied to the'stea'm or vapor which arises to this point in the steam generator for supply to the steam chest The water contained in tank -1- is carried through pipe -31- to the bottom of the water supply regulator 2- which consists of a tank 32- containing float 33- which through the medium of levers 3L- "and links connecting the levers tothe float actuates I the valve stem 35 carrying valve -36 which controls the 'entry' of water from the water supply tank to vthe. water supply regulator. The level of the water in the tank 32 is the same as the level of the water in the'steam generator -3- and water will be supplied to the tank 32 in amount sulficient to maintain the required level in the steam generator and in accordance with the capaclty of the apparatus for changing the water into steamr The pi e --37'-- leads from the water supply .regu ator to the pro-heater coil 23 and supplies the required amount of water thereto, and this water is pre-heated by the heater -24.--preliminaryjto its discharge into the water chamber formed by cylinder 2l--.

The water flows from the waterchamber through passageways 29- to the narrow annular water areas 27 and -28' where the water comes in contact with the heating elements while flowing in film form.

upwardly through said areas, and 1s thereby rapidly heated and changed to steem. As the water vaporizes additional water to maintain substantially "a pre-determined level is supplied to the water areas of the steam'generator'so thatthe supply of-water is substantially equal to the capacity of the generator for changing the'water, into steam. When a predetermined pressure of steam has been reached in the chest 4, the cir-t cuit to the pgrimary18- of the transformer is. bro en and the operation of the steam generator ceases until such time as 1 pressure in the chestreaches a point where I "the switch again automatic'ally closes.

The operation of the apparatus will be well understood from the above, and altho I have shown a specific construction of apparatus, together with details of the parts and the relation thereof, I do notdesire to restrict myselfto the specific form of the 7 apparatus or to the details of the structure ashere disclosed, as various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

"I claim:

1. An electric steam generator comprising a steam generating cha her, a casing. surrounding the steam generating chamber and spaced therefrom, heat insulating material in the space between the casing and the a chamber wall, a pro-heating .coil in said space, a water chamber within the steam generating chamber, and means of communication between'the pre-lieating coil and thewater chamber.

. s 2. An electric steam generator comprising a steam generating 'cha-mber, a casing surrounding the steam generating chamber and spaced therefrom, heat insulating material in the space between the casing and 9 the chamber wall, a pre-heating coil in sai space, a water chamber within the steam generating chamber, means of communication' between the pre-heating coil and the water chamber, narrow water areas In said 9 steam generating, chamber, an electric heating elementfor heating-water in said water areas, and means of communication between the waterchamber and said narrow water areas: .1 3. An electric steam generator comprising a steam generating chamber, fa casing surrounding the' steam generating chamber an" spaced therefrom, heat insulating material in the space between the casing and the 1 chamber wall, a pre-heating coil in said space, a water chamberwithin the steam generating chamber, means of communication between the pre-heating coil and the water chamber, narrow water areas in said l steam generating chamber, an electric heating element for heating water in said water, areas, means of communication between the water chamber and said narrow water areas, and means fol-regulating the level of the 1 water in said chamber and water areas in accorcl'ance with the capacity of the electric heating element for changing water in said, water areas to st am. I

4. An electric steam generator comprising 1 a steam generating chamber, a casing sur- I rounding the steam generating chamber and spaced therefrom, heat insulating material in thespace between the casing and the chamber wall, a preheating coil in said space, a 1 water chamber within the steam, generating chamber, means of communication between the pre-heating coil and the water chamber,

narrow. annular water areas concentric with the waterchamber, an electric heating element for heating water in said water areas, and means of communication between the water chamber and said narrow water areas.

5. An electric steam generator comprising a. water chamber, an electric heating element surrounding said waterchamber, a casing surrounding said electric heating element and forming one wall of a steam generating chamber, an outside wall of said steam generating chamber, a second electric heating element disposed in said steam generating chamber, narrow water ways between said last-named electric heating element and the walls of said steam generating chamber, means of communication between said water ways and said water chamber, another.electric heating element surrounding the outside wall of said steam generating chamber, a water passage adjacent said last named electrio heating element, and in communication with said water chamber, heat insulating means disposed around said last named water passage, and an outside casing surrounding said heat insulating means.

6. In a device as described in claim 5, means for regulating the level of the water in said chamber and water areas in accordance with the capacity of the electric heating elements for changing water in said water areas to steam.

7. In a device as described in claim 5, means for cutting ofI the supply of current to the heating element when a pre-determined steam pressure has been reached.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set January, 

